Sierra Towers was developed in 1965 for US$12million (equivalent to $88.5million in 2023) by Walter and Leo Minskoff, whose family firm also built New York's Minskoff Theatre.[1] The building is known for being more than 15 stories taller than any other building within a 2-mile (3.2 km) radius. Due to Sierra Towers' unique positioning at the base of a hill (the same hill from which Beverly Hills gets its name), the building is the highest residential tower in the greater Los Angeles Area relative to sea level. The building is said to get its plural name from scuttled original plans to build a second tower.[1]
In 2013, singer-actress Cher sold her 2,302 square feet (213.9 square metres) two-story condominium, created by combining two one-bedroom units on the 26th and 27th floors, for US$5.25million (equivalent to $6.8million in 2023).[9] In early 2014, Sandra Bullock purchased a 1,672 square feet (155.3 square metres) unit in the southeast corner of the building's 22nd floor for $3.35million (equivalent to $4.2million in 2023);[10] in 2017, she bought a second, 2,101 square feet (195.2 square metres) unit on the 20th floor, for $5.13million (equivalent to $6.3million in 2023),[11] while placing her original unit on the rental market at the same time, at $22,000 per month (equivalent to $27,000 per month in 2023).[10]Joan Collins's former 2,300 square feet (210 square metres) residence, on the 25th floor, was sold in 2017 for $4.4million (equivalent to $5.4million in 2023).[12] In 2020, Courteney Cox sold her 1,315 square feet (122.2 square metres) unit on the same floor for $2.9million (equivalent to $3.4million in 2023).[13]
The Wall Street Journal reported that Evan Metropoulos, a principal at his family's investment firm Metropoulos & Co., has bought and sold multiple units in the building.[14] He purchased a unit in 2014 for $3.5million (equivalent to $4.4million in 2023), selling it in 2016 for $4.65million (equivalent to $5.8million in 2023).[14] He bought two units, to be used as staff quarters, plus two penthouse units, over the course of 2012 to 2015, including expenditures of $30million (equivalent to $38million in 2023) to buy and combine the two penthouse units into one unit totalling 7,000 square feet (650 square metres).[14][15] By 2018, walls had been removed to create the single penthouse unit, but renovations were still incomplete, so Metropoulos – who had, while waiting, purchased a Beverly Hills mansion – listed all his Sierra Towers units for sale at a combined price of $58million (equivalent to $69.3million in 2023);[14] the listing was reduced to $33.5million (equivalent to $37.2million in 2023) by 2021, when Metropoulos decided to sell the properties by auction, with no reserve price.[15]
In 2023, Katy Perry purchased a penthouse apartment for $11million (equivalent to $11million in 2023).[16]